Book Review: In her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

Meet Rose Feller. She's thirty years old and a high-powered attorney with a secret passion for romance novels. She has an exercise regime she's going to start next week, and she dreams of a man who will slide off her glasses, gaze into her eyes, and tell her that she's beautiful. She also dreams of getting her fantastically screwed-up little sister to get her life together.

Meet Rose's sister, Maggie. Twenty-eight years old, drop-dead gorgeous and only occasionally employed, Maggie sings backup in a band called Whiskered Biscuit. Although her dreams of big-screen stardom haven't progressed past her left hip's appearance in a Will Smith video, Maggie dreams of fame and fortune -- and of getting her dowdy big sister to stick to a skin-care regime.

These two women with nothing in common but a childhood tragedy, shared DNA, and the same size feet, are about to learn that their family is more different than they ever imagined, and that they're more alike than they'd ever believe. In Her Shoes -- Jennifer Weiner's follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut, Good in Bed -- observes Rose and Maggie, the brain and the beauty, as they make journeys of discovery that take them from the streets of Philadelphia to Ivy League libraries to a "retirement community for active seniors" in Boca Raton. Along the way, they'll encounter a wild cast of characters -- from a stepmother who's into recreational Botox to a small, disdainful pug with no name. They'll borrow shoes and clothes and boyfriends, and make peace with their most intimate enemies -- each other.

Funny and poignant, richly detailed and wrenchingly real, In Her Shoes will speak to anyone who has endured the bonds of big -- or little -- sisterhood, or longed for a life different from the one the world has dictated, and dreamed of trying something else on for size.







I totally forgot this was also made into a movie in 2005 so I am going to cheat just a little bit and use this for my 2010 Challenge for read the book see the movie. And I will watch the movie in 2010 so it counts and it is the end of the year close enough.



This is my first Jennifer Weiner book and I had high hopes. My friend Sara said it was a good one…

The book started on a risqué and yet high note. It made me chuckle a little bit and than at the same time as I read on a little sad. Maggie defiantly has some issues to have herself used the way she does. Reading further the relationship between Maggie and Rose touched a little bit close to the relationship I share with my sibling. It is not exact and we are not set fully like the pair but I could defiantly relate and that does make the book a little closer to home for myself and probably others.

While I found the book enjoyable it wasn’t one that I couldn’t put down. It was just okay. Not bad not good, just there. I got a little lost at some of the chapter switches but that could have been my own personal lack of focus. And while I did not think the book was fantastic I will be giving the author another shot and I will defiantly read some more of her books and see where they go.

Happy New Year! Good bye 2009!

A tingling of a plan...

I was reading the fantastic J.Kaye’s book blog this morning (can’t sleep again of course) and I was struck with an idea. Firs of all I have to note J.Kaye is much more organized than me. And secondly she is doing a wonderful novel writing project. 365 Day’s of Novel writing.

Most of you who read the blog here know I am a voracious reader. What you might not know is I am a writer too. And not just the little trying to make ends meat because I am sick articles and advertisements either. Stories, oh nothing novel length yet, (not for lack of ideas honestly I just can’t seem to sort them into novel form yet.). But I used to write Fan Fiction and Short Stories. Mostly now however when I do write I am doing so nightly (every night just about without fail) partner writing Role Play. Me and my writing buddy (who’s name I shall not out) have been doing so for several years now on a variety of topics! I wouldn’t miss doing it with her for the world. I enjoy it immensely. I am thinking I should get my writing chops out again (thank you J.Kaye for the inspiration!) and start doing some short stories.

What do you my readers think? Do you think it is a good idea? Or a Bad idea? There will of course have to be a blog (I am a blog writing addict and I can fully admit it! I also like doing new designs for myself Gluttonous of me I know.). I am thinking of perhaps having myself write one short story a week, or bi-weekly. I will blog about the progress and than post the story in the blog. It may not be a fully final copy more like a rough (depending on if I go weekly or bi-weekly) but it will be a story. My biggest sticking point for the blog right now is what I should name it. I was thinking something to go with my Pen Name of Ambrosia Jefferson (didn’t you know that’s not my real name. *hehe*). I am drawing a blank currently, so I ask you my readers (if you are still reading this LONG post by now) what are your suggestions? Give me some good ones! If I get some good name ideas today I might even toss out a book as a present/giveaway/ reward. Goodness knows I have enough sitting around (see here for that comment on all the little book piles sitting around.)

And just for fun here is the Wikipedia opening statement on Ambrosia:

In ancient Greek mythology, ambrosia (Greek: ἀμβροσία) is sometimes the food, sometimes the drink, of the gods, often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whoever consumes it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus by doves (Odyssey xii.62), so may have been thought of in the Homeric tradition as a kind of divine exhalation of the Earth.
Ambrosia is very closely related to the gods' other form of sustenance, nectar. The two terms may not have originally been distinguished;[1] though in Homer's poems nectar is usually the drink and ambrosia the food of the gods; it was with ambrosia Hera "cleansed all defilement from her lovely flesh" (Iliad xiv.170), and with ambrosia Athena prepared Penelope in her sleep (Odyssey xviii.188ff) so that when she appeared for the final time before her suitors, the effect of the years had been stripped away and they were inflamed at the sight of her. On the other hand, in Alcman, nectar is the food, and in Sappho (fragment 45) and Anaxandrides, ambrosia is the drink.[2] When a character in Aristophanes' Knights says, "I dreamed the goddess poured ambrosia over your head— out of a ladle", the homely and realistic ladle brings the ineffable moment to ground with a thump.
Both nectar and ambrosia are fragrant, and may be used as perfume: in the Odyssey (iv.444-46) Menelaus and his men are disguised as seals in untanned seal skins, "and the deadly smell of the seal skins vexed us sore; but the goddess saved us; she brought ambrosia and put it under our nostrils." Homer speaks of ambrosial raiment, ambrosial locks of hair, even the gods' ambrosial sandals.
Among later writers, ambrosia has been so often used with generic meanings of "delightful liquid" that such late writers as Athenaeus, Paulus and Dioscurides employ it as a technical terms in contexts of cookery,[3] medicine[4] and botany.[5]
Additionally, some modern ethnomycologists, such as Danny Staples, identify ambrosia with the untameable hallucinogenic mushroom Amanita muscaria: "it was the food of the gods, their ambrosia, and nectar was the pressed sap of its juices", Staples asserts.

Awesome New Year Giveaway..

If you like software stuff you really have to check out this give away listedhere at Software Critics .


Below is a full list of what you will win by visiting the site and entering the contest pulled from the site itself! Check it out!

One Snap-A-Bug Pro Account for one (1) year valued at $228US courtesy of SnapABug.com, a Visual Customer Support provider. More about this service will be discussed in the upcoming days or you may visit them at www.snapabug.com for more details.

One of VisualCron business/commercial license plus 1 year maintenance support worth $197US courtesy of VisualCron. You may read Automate Windows tasks with few clicks for more information.

One of two (2) SyncMate Personal licenses worth $39.95US each courtesy of SyncMate. Read SyncMate Helps You Sync Your Mac to Multiple Devices to know more about this tool.

One of five (5) Laptop Alarm software usable for both personal and commercial use courtesy of LAlarm worth $50US each. Read Software to Protect Laptops from Being Stolen for more info.

One Email Marketing Software (Mailer) standard license worth $110US, one (1) Clyton Email client standard license worth $25US and one (1) Televiewer, PC TV license worth $8US all courtesy of Gammadyne.com. To know more about Televiewer, read Watch Live TV Channel on Your PC Free. For the other software, visit www.gammadyne.com.

One of three (3) Windows Automation software Professional licenses worth $199US each courtesy of WinAutomation.com. Read more about it via this post, No More Repetitive Tasks with WinAutomation.

One of two (2) IP Privacy software licenses (one year subscription license) worth $39.95US each courtesy of IP Privacy Pro. Learn more by reading Online Anonymity and Privacy Protection Offered by IP Privacy.

Booking Through Thursday - Year in Review

It’s the last day of the year, and you know what that means … nostalgia and looking back.

What were your favorite books of the year? (Books that were new to you in 2009, if not necessarily published this year.)



It has been a year of many books. I have one more review to write and I am going to be putting it up tonight as I am making the book count for 2009 and 2010, I know a little odd but you will see when I make the review post why. It is hard to believe that it is already going to be 2010. A year has come and gone. I completed 94 books this year. This falls short of my 125 goal, but over all I am pleased. I have reviewed every book I have read and completed 6 other challenges. Since this was my first year of doing challenges I think that is a pretty good accomplishment.

I read a lot of new to me books this year; I did not do any re-reads at all. Some of the books had been in my TBR pile for over a year, but not all of them. Some of my favorites were My Sisters keeper, Shoot the Moon, Good Grief, Devil’s Bride, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation series…and well just a lot more. I really enjoyed most of my books this year. Some were horrible, but most were good.

My TBR pile has been reduced some, I have not taken in as many books as I have finished reading. My only issue is due to finances I have not been able to mail out as many as I want to. But I will be gathering everything that isn’t wish listed on PBS after new years and they will see their way up to the thrift store and cleared out to make room for 2010’s reads. My husband will be happy with that as I currently have several little piles of books around the house. Oppsy!

Happy New Year everyone!

Wicked Wednesday #20

Wicked Wednesday a place to be wicked to other book readers and make them get those TBR piles growing. The concept is simple. Pick a book or two and tell s about them. If its one you read tell us what you liked. If its one you found tell us about that to. Than leave a comment to let us know where to find your Wicked Wednesday titles. Make sure to link back in your posts for other people to follow Wicked Wednesday.



When Catriona Hennessey's uncle's cleverly crafted will offers her the choice of either marrying the scandalous Richard Cynster or leaving her innocent cousins penniless, Catriona is appalled. If she marries at all, she wants a consort who would allow her to continue to act as healer and serve "The Lady," as the women in her family have always done. She knows Cynster is far too overbearing to be that person. The Lady, however, has other ideas. Laurens takes full advantage of the current New Age interest in ancient Goddess worship to weave a steamy story with strong, well-matched protagonists, lively action, and love scenes that melt the pages. Although the novel is set during the British Regency, the period has little influence on this patricular story; readers who want a bit more Regency flavor might enjoy earlier books in the Cynster series.

19 Inch TV for sale.

Are you in the UK? Do you need a new T.V? Check out this fantastic website 19 Inch TV they have some great and affordable Televisions for sale. You can watch all your favorite shows no matter what those may be! From reality TV to Drama and Comedy.

Teaser Tuesday #33

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to: Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page.Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!Please avoid spoilers!

"She hung up the phone and sank into the chair outside the lounge, feeling exhilarated and terrified at the same time. She'd taken the first step, and what was the corny thing that Ira, of all people used to say? " ~ Pg. 277 In her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

The Sunday Salon #13

So I missed the actual Sunday Salon. I also missed my Saturday Sanctuary which I will post soon but I will start with Sunday Salon, as it is the last one of the year. Wow 2009 is almost over I can hardly believe it. This year has been a hard one in life, but sometimes that is just what you have to deal with. Life is not always easy. We simply carry on and move through the tough times. I plan to do so.

Now on the reading front however this year has been a fairly good one. I have accomplished most of my reading goals and my brain is a happy camper for all my reading again. Even my husband is happy because I am getting some of my TBR pile out, and for the most part I have not added a whole lot to it. So he is happy for that. I do have several books that have been read and are just sitting around that have not been requested yet from my PBS shelf so I think what I am going to do is after the new year is donate them. And than I will restart my list and post as I read. Good theory I think.

Have a Fantastic Week everyone!

Book Review: Lady be Bad by Candice Hern

Third book in the Merry Widows Series.

Meet the Merry Widows--respectable ladies with a secret pact to pursue pleasure and to share the delicious details with one another...

The widow of a famous bishop, Grace Marlowe is both shocked and intrigued by the amorous adventures of her fellow Merry Widows. Though she agreed to their pact, she can't imagine giving herself over to passion--until the most notorious libertine in London sets his sights on her.




The third and final full length novel in The Merry Widows series Lady be Bad spins a fantastic story. The other books have been engaging and exciting, but Lady be Bad throws together two people who you would never expect to see together. Grace Marlowe the respectable Bishops widow and the most notorious rake in all of London Lord Rochdale.

Lord Rochdale had never given Grace Marlowe much thought, she was not the type of woman he usually looks at. But thanks to a little bet with the gambler Lord Sheane he has set his eyes on the uptight widow. Or is she uptight at all? Once he sees her he sees just how beautiful Grace Marlowe truly is, with locks of blonde hair that fall like a golden waterfall, and figures that are classically perfect.

Follow this story as it takes us through the ups and downs, the worries and the possibilities. Hern has wrapped this one up in a nice little package and it is the perfect way to end the series on a high note. If I had to pick a favorite of the books I would pick this one. I am almost sad to see the series end but if it had to this was the perfect way.

Friday Firsts #4

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title & author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?
Link back to Well-Read Reviews in your blog entry.
Come back to this blog post, hosted on WellReadReviews.com and add your direct link to Mr. Linky! ** Very important!

"Baby" groaned the guy-Ted? Tad? something like that- and crushed his lips against the side of her neck, shoving her face against the wall of the toilet stall. ~ In her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

I can not say this line is not interesting. It pulled me in on the curiousness of such a bold statement. And I have continued on into the next pages.

Friday Finds #25 - Merry Christmas

I am taking today off from actually posting finds. Because it is Christmas. Happy Holiday's to everyone of my readers out there. This blog would not be nearly as fun without you.

Booking Through Thursday - History

Given the choice, which do you prefer? Real history? Or historical fiction? (Assume, for the purposes of this discussion that they are equally well-written and engaging.)


though if I really thought about it I would have to pick Historical Fiction because it gives more leeway. While I love true history the historical fiction gives you a look into the what ifs, and maybes of things. And I have always liked to wonder what some people were thinking in historical moments. Part of the fun is that creative liscence that is allowed to be taken.

Wicked Wednesday #19

Wicked Wednesday a place to be wicked to other book readers and make them get those TBR piles growing. The concept is simple. Pick a book or two and tell s about them. If its one you read tell us what you liked. If its one you found tell us about that to. Than leave a comment to let us know where to find your Wicked Wednesday titles. Make sure to link back in your posts for other people to follow Wicked Wednesday.


This book is HOT.

New Feature

I have added a new feature to the side of the blog. It is an Ask me anything feature, through forumspring. My friend Sara over at TinyandAnnoying started doing this, and I just followed suit because I thought it was fun. So go ahead and head over and ask me anything. You can be Anonymous.

Teaser Tuesday #32

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to: Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page.Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!Please avoid spoilers!

"There was a long moment of silence during which Jane watched him with a glint of expecation in her brown eyes, surely hoping he would ask about all those lost years.Dear God, how he wanted to bolt." ~ Pg.111 Lady Be Bad by Candice Hern

Musing Monday #33

While Rebecca of Just One More Page is on holiday, MizB has posted the question of the week:


When you buy books, do they immediately go onto your bookshelf to wait until you’re ready to read them (even if that means months/years from then!), or do you read them right away? What makes you do this? If you’re a ’shelver’, why do you think you don’t read the books right away? Do you ever feel guilty for letting the books sit there, unread? If you’re a ‘read-em-now’ person, why do you feel they have to be read right away? Do you give away the books when you’re done, too?

In general I am a shelver. I put the books on my shelf and get to them when I get to them. I don’t feel bad about it because books don’t ever get old in my opinion the story isn’t a trend, it’s a story. It is not like food it won’t expire. Sometimes I will read a book right away, like if it is the latest in a series I am really enjoying and I have the bug to read it, or something along those lines.

Book Review: Mercy by Jodi Picoult

Police chief of a small Massachusetts town, Cameron McDonald makes the toughest arrest of his life when his own cousin Jamie comes to him and confesses outright that he has killed his terminally ill wife out of mercy.

Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie -- seduced by the idea of a man so in love with his wife that he'd grant all her wishes, even her wish to end her life. And when an inexplicable attraction leads to a shocking betrayal, Allie faces the hardest questions of the heart: when does love cross the line of moral obligation? And what does it mean to truly love another?

Praised for her "personal, detail-rich style" (Glamour), Jodi Picoult infuses this page-turning novel with heart, warmth, and startling candor, taking readers on an unforgettable emotional journey.





How much do you love your significant other? Would you kill them if they asked you to? If they were dying of something terminal slowly and painfully could you do it? Could you face the aftermath? These are the real questions that Mercy brings up. You follow the stories of Jamie and his Wife Maggie who he has killed. And than Cam and Allie the Police Chief and his wife.

There are a lot of complex emotions in this book and Jodi Picoult manages to roll them out for you in a well woven tapestry of happiness and sadness all rolled into one. It makes you question what would you do if you were in Jamie’s situation. And not only that it makes you question what you believe with Cam, when Mia comes to town.

I can honestly say I wanted to slap Cam a few times but I suppose that it is my point of view as a woman. And I am still unsure if I would be able to do what Jamie did for his dear wife Maggie. To love someone so much you would kill them to stop their pain. That is an awesome and un-defining kind of love. But within the story we also see how Jamie begins to change, on how his perception of what he did and what he believes he want changes. There just really are no words to accurately describe how haunting and good this book is. I recommend you read it, and keep some tissues close.

Quotable Sunday #18

"Thy friendship oft has made my heart to ache: do be my enemy for friendship's sake."
- William Blake, sent in by Lauren
"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."
- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist.

"Have no friends not equal to yourself."
- Confucious (551 - 497 BC) Chinese philosopher.

"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."
- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.

"A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) US poet & essayist.

"Keep your friendships in repair."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (as above)

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If a man does not make new acquaintance as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, Sir, should keep his friendship in constant repair."
- Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784) British lexiographer.


"True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in their worth and choice."
- Samuel Johnston, (as above)

"It is more shameful to distrust one's friends than to be deceived by them."
- Duc de la Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680) French writer.

"If it is abuse - why one is always sure to here of it from one damned good-natured friend or other!"
- Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751 - 1816) British dramatist.

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company."
- George Washington (1732 - 1799) US Statesman.

"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."
- George Washington, (as above)

"I can never think of promoting my convenience at the expense of a friend's interest and inclination."
- George Washington, (as above)

The Sunday Salon #12

It is Sunday again and less than a week till Christmas. How are you feeling about the holidays? How are you feeling about the holidays? Me I am a little bit depressed about it because well it frankly sucks around here. With my Grandma having passed we wont be doing anything but a simple dinner with just Mom and my Sister. It isn’t horrible, but ya know. With medical bills being as they are no presents for us this year. But that is okay there is more to the holidays than that, but still it would have been nice to have something.

On the reading front I have been doing well. I should be finishing with Mercy soon and than I will be reading probably one more book before the end of the year. Mercy is a bit of a depressing book so far. It is really good but there are a few characters I would like to strangle. Seriously. But I will try to hold my judgment till I finish the book.

Have a good Sunday.

Know someone who could use a smile?

I have started a new project and would love to share it with my readers. www.RandomActsOfSmiles.com is a website dedicated to making the mailbox not just about bills. It is free to have a card sent to a friend or even yourself. All you have to do is fill out the form and submit it. The only thing being asked to have one sent is to check in your card when you get it! So please Check it out.

Blogversery Giveaway

Happy Day it is my Blogversery and timefor a Party! Well I am going to be giving you the present. I have put together a group of books to give away for you! These books have been gently loved and read they are not brand new but have no major issues at all. Ready? Here we go.

This Giveaway will run from today the post date til Jan. 5th 2010. Happy entries!

**Required for Entry* Post about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a link to the post in the comment**

For extra entries (leave a comment for each thing you do):

1. Tweet about the giveaway linking to http://www.icewarmth.com/ at least once (must leave the link to your Tweet in comment). - 1 entry (you can retweet every day).
2. Follow LadyAmbrosia’s Creations on Blogger. - 1 entry
3. Subscribe to Lady Ambrosia Creations in on feed burner - 1 entry
4. Add Lady Ambrosia’s Creations button to sidebar/blogroll. - 1 entry
5. Follow @LadyAmbrosia on Twitter. - 1 entry
6. Follow me here at Fire & Ice - 1 entry
7. Head to Birth of a Notion and follow me there - 1 entry

Saturday Sanctuary #7

The Saturday Sanctuary will be a Weekly Writing Post. I will ask something or give a topic. Sometimes it will be short, sometimes it might be longer. The idea is just to write! So others can read. I thought it would be a great idea for a Book Blog to do something about writing. We are bloggers after all so we must have some enjoyment of writing too! So hop on in and Join the Saturday Sanctuary, grab our link and our picture and post your replies here. Make sure you visit others blogs out there and leave comments. Mostly have fun.

What do you do for Christmas Traditions?

We do not have too many Christmas traditions in my family that have survived the deaths of two Grandmas, however we used to have traditions that I loved when I was growing up. Christmas Eve would be spent at my Grandpa’s we would have dinner, sing some carols and open some presents. Grandpa would than read us a Christmas story book and we would go to Midnight Mass. Most of the time I fell asleep but I remember going to the Cathedral with Grandpa and the family for those nights.

Than Christmas day after breakfast and our own presents at home we would be spent with my Grandma on my Moms side. She had the tree in her living room with presents piled underneath it. All of the family would show up and we would all gather around the tree, and talk and share stories and laugh. Than we would eat dinner buffet style because there was so many of us. It was fantastic.

After we were all full, the parents ready for what was coming we handed out presents. The little kids got to help grandma pass out presents. As she would read the names and tell us who to go to. She liked to give the kids their own presents and we got to make our own little piles of presents happily. We would open everything and than it was time to play with new toys, watch movies and eventually happily fall asleep.

I really miss those times.